Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-25
AN AWKWARD INTERVIEW

"You will-er-stay and-and meet
MIR. Rochdale my dear. will you not ??
"Well, no, papa" replied Edith
Lascelles, in meditative fashion, 81
don't think will. You see, my posi-
tion is peculiar one. l have no hesi-
tation in saying find it dfsagreea-
BILE one too. suppose if l were like
heroine of romance l should feel a
wild excitement and strange thrill
ETC., ETC., at meeting the man who is
to be my husband, but who is utterly
unknown to me; but not being a
heroine at all, these feelings are want
ing"
"Of course, my DEAR" MIR. Lascelles
observed, a trihe nervously, "you
know you can refuse him if you like,
but you are so sensible, and"
Yes cut in the girl decisively,
"and l shall lose five thousand a year,
shan't 1? Well, l tell you fatty, papa,
l shall lose the five thousand most GER
tainly if l don't like the man."
"Then you intend to let the money
slip from you altogether. In plain
words, you refuse"
Edith shook her head.
81 never do anything in hurry"
she determined, and a glance at her
pretty, firm mouth bore testimony to
her words; "but you did not tell me,
papa, what induced Aunt Maria to
choose this Mr.. Rochdale more than
any other person."
"She was in love with his father
years ago. At least, l believe so, my
dear, and So"
81 understand" Edith's lip curled
in sneer; delightfully."- sentimental
and deplorably vulgar"
Two days later Edith found herself
ensconced in the snugest corner of
pretty Mrs. Dalton's 'drawing-room
She was very fond of Lucy; they had
been firm friends in their childish
days and Mrs. Dalton had the great
est respect for the tall, handsome girl
who was so far her superior in brains.
The last time they had met had been
in Paris, when Edith was introduced
to Lucy's husband, one of the kindest-
hearted men in the world-a dry
sslter, or a soap-boiler, or some such
mysterious and consequently wealthy
person = and to the golden-haired
child, the very image of her mother
and the idol Of the household.
"You are looking pale, Lucy"
Edith remarked, as she stitched Wig
orously at her work-she was never
idle moment.
Lucy suddenly belied the sugges-
ton by coloring vividly, almost pain
fully.
II am very we'll, DEAR" she an
swered and Edith's quick ear caught
the faintest trace of annoyance in the
pretty voice.
She pondered a little over this, and
by and by Mrs. Dalton rose hufriedly
"You won't mind, Edith, if l leave
you for half an hour, will you? !
must go to Dents; they have moi
sent home the things ordered"
"Let me CO." Edith put down her
work. "You know you have been out
this morning, and Herbert does moi
like 20 see you tired when he comes
home"
ooh, the drive won't hurt me, and
l would rather go myself, the people
are so stupid. know you won't be
dull there is a pile of new books, and
baby will come down if you would care
to have her."
Edith stared at the fire when alone
.'If it was not too absurd" she said t.
herself, as she recalled the nervous
ness and haste with which her frien(
had spoken. 81 should imagine tina
Lucy did not care about my being will
her just now. She made me yer,
welcome, certainly; but she Seems
changed, and l don't know exactl,
where or howl Perhaps she is i'll
She may say what she likes
but she looks wretched. If so, an
very glad l nave come. She is al
emotional creature, and would proba